JP2007026290A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system which optimizes an image processing method in a driver or in a main controller by acquiring color processing parameters from recording means mounted on ink tanks when a plurality of ink tanks, which are different in version, are mounted on a printing device employing independent ink tanks. <P>SOLUTION: Ink tanks are provided with EEPROMs, and update information, that is, "Color parameters are renewed only when all the colors are complete" or "A color parameter is updated for each color" is recorded for each color processing parameter, for its version and for each parameter version in a driver. A color parameter update method, when inks of different versions are mounted on a printer, is determined based on the versions of color parameters the driver has and the update information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system for printing an image on a recording medium using a plurality of types of ink or toner, and in particular, uses a cartridge including a memory for storing various image processing parameters and memory data. The present invention relates to a printing system that optimizes image processing.

  In general, image data output from an application is expressed as luminance data with RGB superimposed, and when output by various image forming devices, it is in a data format that can be interpreted by the image forming device. Must be converted. For example, an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet printer uses C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), etc. inks and combines them to perform color reproduction of a color image. ing. In order to generate the print data suitable for each printer, processing to convert the input RGB data into CMY bitmap data that matches the characteristics of the printer is performed to maximize the performance of the printer. This is a printer driver that is software. In general, in the printer driver, the correction / conversion processing from RGB to CMYK first corrects the RGB value depending on the display device, which is the color attribute of each object, to RGB depending on the characteristics of the printer, and then performs correction. A procedure is adopted in which the CMYK values depending on the printer are changed from the already-completed RGB values.

  At that time, even in order to express the same element color among the element colors such as C, M, Y, and K used for color reproduction, the type of ink used is generally different according to the characteristics of the printer. Since the color reproduction characteristics at the time of printing differ depending on the difference in the component composition of the ink, the optimum color processing differs depending on the type of ink used. In addition, since the color reproduction characteristics of a printer depend not only on ink but also on the type of paper, binarization method, print mode, and the like, printer manufacturers can select color processing parameters such as a color correction LUT and a color conversion LUT. Are prepared according to the type of paper, binarization method, print mode, and the like, and are provided in a printer driver.

  By the way, even if it is the ink used for the same apparatus, in order to obtain a more favorable coloring and image fastness, the development of the new ink which changed composition is performed every day. When such newly developed ink is used in an existing printer, optimum output can be performed by using color processing parameters that match the characteristics of the new ink. However, since the color processing parameters are generally provided by being incorporated in the printer driver, the printer driver needs to be updated (reinstalled) in order to use the color processing parameters in accordance with the new ink characteristics. In recent years, printers compatible with so-called direct printing, in which printing is performed without using a host device such as a personal computer by connecting a digital camera (hereinafter referred to as DSC) directly to the printer or inserting a memory card or the like, have become popular. However, in such a printer, there is a problem that it is necessary to update the program of the controller part incorporated in the printer body, and an operation with a higher degree of difficulty is required.

As a technique for solving such problems, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), which is a non-volatile storage medium, is installed in the ink cartridge, and parameters representing ink cartridges and ink characteristics are recorded in the EEPROM in advance. The data is used to perform processing such as updating the processing contents of the driver in the PC (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-227182

  In the method of acquiring information from the cartridge by the above means, in a printer employing an independent ink tank capable of individually replacing ink for each color, it is necessary to individually acquire information from each ink tank, but the development time is different. There is a possibility that new and old inks may be installed simultaneously. In the conventional method described above, in such a case, it is determined that “the old and new inks cannot be used at the same time and the driver's color processing parameters are not updated” or “the driver's It is impossible to determine whether to update the color processing parameter, and the problem remains that it is difficult to optimize image processing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. When a new version of ink is installed than the ink assumed when designing the color processing parameters held by the driver, the ink tanks are individually stored. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system capable of performing appropriate color processing corresponding to ink by acquiring information and updating color processing parameters. Furthermore, if ink tanks with different version parameters are installed, the driver color processing parameters are updated only when the parameter versions of all ink colors are the same, or the driver color processing parameters for each single color If the printer uses an independent ink tank and multiple versions of ink are installed together by updating the driver's color processing parameters as appropriate based on the determination. Even so, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for easily performing optimum output.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

(1) A printing system comprising a printer having one or a plurality of ink tanks mounted on an ink head, and a host device capable of communicating with the printer,
The ink tank has a storage medium for recording information for determining an image processing method that the printer can access;
A printer driver installed in the host device reads the information,
A printing system, comprising: an image processing optimizing unit that determines an image processing method based on the read information.

  (2) In (1), the printer driver includes an image processing parameter and version information of the image processing parameter, and information recorded on the recording medium includes an image processing parameter used by the printer driver and the image driver. Print information including version information of a processing parameter, update information for determining an image processing parameter update unit based on a version of the image processing parameter in the printer driver and a version of the image processing parameter in the recording medium system.

  (3) In (2), the image processing optimization means reads information in the recording media on all the ink tanks by the driver to determine an image processing method, or determines whether the image processing method is in the recording media on the ink tanks. Whether the driver individually reads the information and determines the image processing method is determined based on the update information.

(4) A printing system using a printer in which one or a plurality of ink tanks are mounted on an ink head and a recording medium storing image data or a digital camera can be directly connected to perform direct printing,
The ink tank has a storage medium for recording information for determining an image processing method that the printer can access;
The image processing program recorded in the controller of the printer reads the information,
A printing system comprising: an image processing optimizing unit for determining an image processing method by the image processing program based on the read information.

  (5) In (4), the image processing program includes an image processing parameter and version information of the image processing parameter, and information recorded on the recording medium includes an image processing parameter used in the image processing program, Including version information of the image processing parameter, update information for determining an image processing parameter update unit based on the version of the image processing parameter in the printer driver and the version of the image processing parameter in the recording medium, Printing system to do.

  (6) In (5), the image processing optimization means reads information in the recording medium on all the ink tanks by the image processing program to determine an image processing method, or records on the ink tanks. A printing system that determines whether information on a medium is individually read by the driver and determines an image processing method based on the update information.

  According to the printing system of the present invention, in a system that performs printing via the host device by storing individual color processing parameters in recording means such as an EEPROM mounted in each independent ink tank, the host When it is necessary to update the color processing parameters held by the existing driver in the device, the color processing parameters are obtained from the installed ink tank by installing the corresponding ink in the printer. Color processing parameters can be updated. In addition, the parameter version stored in the EEPROM on each color ink tank and the color processing parameter version of the driver to be compared are updated only when the versions of all ink colors are the same. Or “update color processing parameters for each color”, it is possible to perform appropriate image processing optimization even when different versions of ink are mixed. As a result, there is a drastic change in the ink composition, etc., and if all the inks do not use the same version of ink and the corresponding color processing parameters to obtain the desired output results, the versions of all ink colors are available. Printers that use independent ink tanks, such as updating the driver's color processing parameters only when the driver's color processing parameters are updated, and updating the single color alone produces a favorable output result. In this case, it is possible to easily perform image processing optimization for optimal output. As a result, it is possible to perform optimum printing using ink having a new composition in an existing printer without performing an operation of updating (installing) the driver that has been conventionally required.

  Also, in a direct printing system that performs printing without using a host device, information is obtained from recording means mounted on an ink tank by a similar method, and color processing parameters in the main body controller are automatically updated. Therefore, it is possible to perform printing by optimum color processing according to the ink mounted on the printer without taking the complicated procedure of updating the firmware.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  A head 607 is mounted on an inkjet printer 604 connected to a host device 601 such as a personal computer, and one or a plurality of ink tanks (not shown) are mounted on the head 607. The host device 601 has a printer driver 602 that issues a print command to the printer 604, and has a color processing table 101 that records color processing parameters and the like. The printer 604 receives a print command from the printer driver 602, interprets the print command, creates a print image, receives the print image created by the controller 606, and supplies ink supplied from the ink tank via the head 607. And a printing mechanism 605 for printing the print image on a predetermined sheet.

  Each ink tank is equipped with an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), which is a non-volatile storage medium, and records an on-chip table to be described later. The controller 606 reads the information written in the EEPROM from the EEPROM and notifies the printer driver 602 of the information.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a color processing table 101 incorporated in a printer driver of a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The color processing table 101 is provided as part of the printer driver 602, and includes color processing parameters for each print mode determined by the paper type, binarization method, print quality, and the like. It consists of a version information section 103 and a parameter section 104. The parameter section 104 associates one color processing parameter with each ID representing the above-described print mode, and color processing used in all provided print modes. Store the parameters. For example, a printing mode of “photo paper / high-quality printing” is defined by an ID such as “ID = 1000”, and color parameters used in the printing mode corresponding to each ID are stored in association with the ID. A portion 102 surrounded by a broken line in the figure represents a portion storing parameters used in the print mode of “ID = 1000” for each color of CMYK. Note that the color parameter in the present embodiment refers to a color conversion LUT (lookup table) 501 shown in FIG. 5 for performing conversion to output data such as CMYK after correcting RGB data of an input image to device RGB. It is. In the example of Fig.5, the input value of each color 0-255 of RGB input data is divided by 17 grid points (17 grid points of 0,16,32,48, ... 240,255) every 16 points. The output value of each CMYK color for the point is described.

  The version information unit 103 stores version information of color processing parameters in the parameter unit 104 for each color, and in the example of FIG. 1, the color processing parameters in the color processing table 101 held by the current driver. The versions of C, M, Y, and K are all version 1.00.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the in-chip table 201 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The in-chip table 201 includes a version unit 203, an update information unit 204, and a parameter unit 205. The parameter unit 205 is similar to the parameter unit 104 of the color processing table 101, and each ID representing a print mode determined by the paper type and quality. Is stored in association with one color processing parameter. However, the parameters stored in the in-chip table 201 have only the output data of the ink in its own ink tank among the LUT data used in the print mode corresponding to each ID. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, the data recorded in the EEPROM mounted on the magenta ink tank is the data of the magenta portion of the output data information of the LUT of FIG. 5 (the portion 502 surrounded by a broken line). Only.

  When common color processing is performed in a plurality of print modes, a plurality of print mode IDs are stored in association with the same parameter. In the in-chip table 201 of FIG. 2, ID = 1000 and ID = 1022 are associated with the same parameter 202 (broken line portion in the figure). That is, in the example of FIG. 1, the same parameter 202 is used for magenta ink in “photo paper / high quality printing (ID = 1000)” and “glossy paper / high quality printing (ID = 1022)”.

  When the update information unit 204 determines whether or not to update the color processing parameter in the driver color processing table 101, the parameter version in the in-chip table of the ink tank mounted in the printer is all ink colors. Update the driver color processing table 101 only if they are the same (A type) '' or `` Update the driver color processing table 101 regardless of the parameter version of the in-chip table of other installed ink (B Type) ”is stored for each parameter version of the driver. For example, the development time of the ink assumed in the driver's color processing table 101 and the ink actually installed in the printer are different, and the composition of the ink has changed drastically between them, and all the colors are the same version If the new output ink and color processing parameters designed for it are not used to obtain the desired output results, the driver's color processing parameters are changed only when all inks of the same version are installed. Type A to be updated. On the other hand, when a preferable output result can be obtained by updating the parameters of only a single color, such as changing the output correction curve, the B type is selected. However, since the color processing table 101 is updated only when the parameter version in the driver color processing table 101 is older than the parameter version of the driver recorded in the version information unit 203, the information stored in the update information unit 204 Is information “A type or B type for a parameter version older than its own parameter version recorded in the version information section 203”.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the version of the color processing parameter included in the in-chip table 201 is 2.02, and if the color processing parameter version of the driver color processing table 101 is 1.00 or 1.01, “all installed in the printer” Update the driver color processing table 101 only when the parameter version in the ink chip mounting table is 2.02 for all colors ”, and if the color processing parameter version of the driver color processing table 101 is 2.00 or 2.01, Regardless of the color processing parameter version of the chip tank table 201 of other ink installed in the printer, the driver updates the parameters in the color processing table 101 of the driver ”.

  Hereinafter, the flow of the color processing table 101 update process will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

<Parameter version check>
The parameter version in the color processing table 101 held by the host device 601 is compared with the parameter version in the in-chip table 201 of the ink tank mounted on the printer 604, and the parameter of the driver color processing table 101 needs to be updated. It is determined whether or not. For the parameter version of the driver, the version information unit 103 of the color processing table 101 is referred to, and the parameter version Vd in the driver is acquired (S1). Then, after acquiring Vd, paying attention to the first ink color by setting “i = 1” (S2), referring to the version information section 203 of the in-chip table 201 and acquiring the parameter version Vti (S3). Here, “Vti” represents a parameter version of the i-th ink color. Then, Vti and Vd are compared (S4) .If Vti is higher, the current ink color is the `` parameter update candidate ink color '', and the update list displays `` Ink type (magenta of model number a, Etc.) ”is registered (S5). The above processing is performed on all ink tanks mounted on the printer (S3 to S7). The update list in this embodiment is a list that is referred to when actually updating the parameters of the color processing table 101 after the parameter version check is completed, and is managed inside the driver.

<Parameter update>
After all color versions have been compared, the driver color processing table 101 is updated according to whether the ink parameter version Vt registered in the update list and the update type are “A type” or “B type”. .

  The parameter versions Vt of ink registered in the list as update candidates are compared (S8), and if the parameter versions of all ink colors on the list are the same (Yes in S8), the update version list For all colors, the corresponding color data among the color processing parameters in the driver color processing table 101 is overwritten and updated with the color processing parameters in the in-chip table 201 (S10). FIG. 4 shows an example in which the magenta (M) information in the driver color processing table 101 is overwritten and updated with the color processing parameters in the EEPROM mounted on the magenta ink.

  On the other hand, if the parameter version Vt of the ink registered in the list as the update candidate is not the same (No in S8), it is determined whether the ink on the update list is “A type” or “B type”. Information recorded in the update information section 204 of the inner table 201 is referred to by subtracting the parameter version Vd of the driver 602 (S9). As a result, when the relationship between Vt and Vd is “B type” (No in S9), the parameter update as described above is performed only for the corresponding color (S12). If the relationship between Vt and Vd is `` all A types '' (Yes in S8), it is determined that the installed ink tanks are in a state where versions that cannot be used at the same time are mixed, Mismatch display is performed without updating the color processing table 101 (S11).

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The printing system according to this embodiment is a direct printing system in which a DSC or a memory card is directly connected to a printer without using a host device, an original image is input, data is processed inside the printer, and printing is performed.

  A head 707 is attached to the ink jet printer 701, and one or a plurality of ink tanks (not shown) are mounted on the head 707. The printer 701 creates a print image from image data input from a DSC or various memory cards connected via an interface (not shown) using an image processing program 702 and a color processing table 101 recorded in the controller 706. And a printing mechanism 705 that receives the print image created by the controller 706 and prints the print image on a predetermined sheet using ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink head 707.

  Each ink tank is equipped with an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) which is a nonvolatile storage medium, and an in-chip table 201 similar to that in the first embodiment is written in advance. These pieces of information written in the EEPROM are read from the EEPROM by the controller 705, and the parameters of the color processing table 101 are updated as necessary.

  Hereinafter, the structure of the color processing table 101, the structure of the in-chip table 201, and the parameter update processing flow of the color processing table 101 are all the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the first and second embodiments, the color processing parameter is expressed using the LUT, but the type of the color processing parameter is not limited to this. For example, a method of performing color correction / color conversion using mathematical expressions may be used. The criteria for determining whether to update parameters and the criteria for mismatch determination are not limited to these embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. No.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), or a device (for example, a copier, a facsimile device, etc.) composed of a single device. You may apply to.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

The block diagram showing the structure of the color processing table of the driver in 1st and 2nd embodiment. The block diagram showing the structure of the table in a chip | tip in 1st and 2nd embodiment. The flowchart showing the flow of a process from the check of the parameter in 1st and 2nd embodiment to an update. The block diagram showing the color processing table update process in 1st and 2nd embodiment. The block diagram showing the LUT structure of the color processing parameter in 1st and 2nd embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing system in a first embodiment. The block diagram showing the printing system in 2nd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 color processing table
103 Version information section
104 Parameter section
201 In-chip table
203 Version information section
204 Update information section
205 Parameter part
601 Host device
602 Printer driver
604 printer
605 printing mechanism
606 controller
607 head
701 printer
702 Image processing program
705 Printing mechanism
706 controller
707 head

Claims (6)

In a printing system comprising a printer having one or more ink tanks mounted on an ink head, and a host device capable of communicating with the printer,
The ink tank has a storage medium for recording information for determining an image processing method that the printer can access;
A printer driver installed in the host device reads the information,
A printing system, comprising: an image processing optimizing unit that determines an image processing method based on the read information.   The printer driver includes image processing parameters and version information of the image processing parameters, and information recorded on the recording medium includes image processing parameters used by the printer driver, version information of the image processing parameters, and the information 2. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising update information for determining image processing parameter update means based on a version of an image processing parameter in a printer driver and a version of the image processing parameter in the recording medium.   The image processing optimizing means is configured so that the driver reads information in the recording media on all the ink tanks to determine an image processing method, or the driver individually reads information in the recording media on the ink tanks. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein whether to read and determine an image processing method is determined based on the update information. In a printing system using a printer in which one or a plurality of ink tanks are mounted on an ink head and a recording medium storing image data or a digital camera can be directly connected to perform direct printing.
The ink tank has a storage medium for recording information for determining an image processing method that the printer can access;
The image processing program recorded in the controller of the printer reads the information,
A printing system comprising: an image processing optimizing unit for determining an image processing method by the image processing program based on the read information.   The image processing program includes image processing parameters and version information of the image processing parameters, and information recorded on the recording medium includes image processing parameters used in the image processing program, version information of the image processing parameters, 5. The printing according to claim 4, further comprising update information for determining an image processing parameter update unit based on the version of the image processing parameter in the printer driver and the version of the image processing parameter in the recording medium. system.   The image processing optimization means reads the information in the recording media on all the ink tanks by the image processing program to determine an image processing method, or individually reads the information in the recording media on the ink tanks 6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein whether the driver reads and determines an image processing method is determined based on the update information.

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